GSoE student, Peggy Styles, graduates with a doctorate, aged 86

An ‘inspirational’ 86-year-old has become the oldest student to graduate from the University of Bristol.

Peggy Styles, from Failand, completed an EdD – the educational equivalent of a PhD – earlier this year and graduates today with fellow students from the Graduate School of Education.

The title of Peggy's dissertation for her doctorate was 'Old Wives Tales? Changing my Perception of the World', and it aimed to acquaint the next generation with the history of the 20th Century from a human and family perspective, and also to mark the gradual changes in attitude to the education of women which has taken place within living memory.

Laurinda Brown, a Reader in the Graduate School of Education who worked with Peggy on her thesis, said: "What I am always struck by is her indomitable spirit forged in the nomadic historical movements of her family across Europe provoked by the world wars.

"There has never been any doubt in my mind that Peggy would finish this work of family history with reflections on differences in how women were educated, even though it took eight years. She is an inspirational woman and it's been a pleasure to work with her."